GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – Summer heat has finally faded away to a crisp fall chill and with the days getting shorter, it won’t be long until eastern N.C. residents are relying on their furnaces or heat pumps to keep warm.

“I’d recommend go ahead, check your unit before it gets really cold,” said Walt Pollard of Sam Pollard & Sons Heating & Air. “If you need to, call a professional to make sure that you can get your system running.”

Pollard said being proactive is better than an unpleasant surprise on a bitter, cold night.

“The furnace has usually still performed within the air conditioning task during the summer; usually they work in conjunction with one another,” said Pollard. “So having it checked before you go into the heating season is really important.”

Once your system gets the OK, you’ll want to remember these tips to save you money through the winter.

“If you have a heat pump system, it’s going be important to take that heat pump to a certain temperature and try to leave it at that temperature,” said Pollard. “If you have a gas system, you can fluctuate your temperature.”

Also, if you have a system that runs on gas or oil, make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home. According to the CDC, the carbon monoxide is responsible for over 400 deaths every year

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